As a Festival Director with the EastSide Arts Festival Rachel Kennedy’s role requires excellent people skills and a flair for creativity. She talks to nijobfinder about the challenge of hosting a festival in the current climate.
Give a brief outline of your career to date.
I have been the Manager of EastSide Arts and Director of the annual EastSide Arts and C.S. Lewis Festivals since 2016, working across arts and culture in east Belfast. This year’s EastSide Arts Festival will run August 6-16. It can be enjoyed online from the comfort of your own home, outdoors in person, or in a small number of east Belfast locations as part of a live, socially distanced audience. I am responsible to a voluntary board for the overall vision and strategic direction of EastSide Arts; my particular passion is as a creative producer, working on unique cultural collaborations with artists and partners to deliver great events that showcase the people, places and spaces of east Belfast.
Before joining EastSide Arts, I was an Arts Officer with Newry, Mourne and Down District Council, running the live programme at Down Arts Centre for almost ten years. During this time, I completed the Clore Leadership Programme which gave me the opportunity to meet and work with colleagues in the arts and culture sector across the UK and Ireland. I am currently the Chair of Terra Nova Productions, an intercultural theatre company based in east Belfast, and I sit on the board of Dumbworld, a multi-disciplinary creative production company.
What was your favourite subject at school?
Art, closely followed by English Literature.
Did you go on to further/higher education, if so what did you study and where?
I studied English and Art History at St. Andrews in Scotland for four years, followed by an MBA (Master of Business Administration) from the University of Ulster.
How did you get into your area of work?
I always wanted to work in the arts but it took a few years to get there! I volunteered with arts organisations at university and continued to do so for as long as possible. Volunteer roles at the Ulster Museum and the Old Museum Arts Centre gave me a fantastic insight into the arts sector in Belfast and helped me get the experience I needed to get my first arts job at the Ormeau Baths Gallery.
Is this what you always wanted to do?
I always wanted to work in the arts, and the role of creative producer is the one that has emerged as suiting me best. I love the constant variety of the work and the artists I have the good fortune to work with. I get great enjoyment from playing a role that brings artists and audiences together. As a festival programmer, I get the added bonus of doing that in unusual and unique spaces.
Were there any particular essential qualifications or experience needed?
Communications and a firm understanding of the role and impact of arts is important. Also the ability to fundraise, manage a budget, work with multiple stakeholders and understand creative programming.
Are there alternative routes into the job?
People take many routes into working in the arts, but the majority will have had a passion for the arts either in their personal or professional life.
What are the main personal skills your job requires?
The job requires the ability to focus on very detailed work whilst balancing that with a strategic outlook, it requires strong communication skills and the ability to form good working relationships. Being a ‘people person’ is an important part of the job, as is a creative and positive outlook.
What does a typical day entail?
During a festival, a typical day involves rushing from one event to another whilst trying to keep on top of the paperwork! At other times of the year I will spend much of the day at my desk working on funding applications and reports or at planning meetings.
What are the best and most challenging aspects of the job?
The best aspects of the job are the moments when an event you have been part of planning has a real impact on a participant or audience member, and all the hard work has paid off. The most challenging aspects are the funding environment and trying to maintain the sustainability of the company whilst making as much impact as possible.
Why is what you do important?
I work for EastSide Partnership, a regeneration organisation whose mission is to make east Belfast a better place. My role within EastSide Arts is to make a positive impact in the east through arts participation and engagement as the arts play a vital role in building healthy communities and enhancing personal wellbeing.
How has COVID-19 impacted your business/role?
We have lost much of our budget and had to revise how we deliver our key piece of work – the EastSide Arts Festival. Later in the year we will be looking for ways to run other key community programmes that, at this point, we can’t guarantee will take place.
What adjustments have you had to make?
Working from home, Zoom meetings and putting much of the festival programme online.
What advice would you give anyone looking to follow a similar career path?
Get lots of experience, find the area that most interests you then throw yourself in 100%.
If you weren’t doing this what would you like to do?
Something with animal rescue or welfare.
What is the one piece of advice you would give to yourself on your first day?
It may seem overwhelming at first, but that will pass.
Describe your ideal day off.
Yoga, brunch, a long walk at the beach or mountains, meeting with friends, drinks and dinner.
And finally, what’s the key to any successful job search?
Make a list of what you really want from the job and focus on that so that you make good decisions about the sort of job to apply for and can give each application your full energy.
Keep up to date with the latest news and views on the NI job market and more by following the nijobfinder blog.
Follow nijobfinder on Facebook and Twitter to see the latest jobs and to ensure your dream job won’t pass you by.